The Chattanooga Regional Homeless Coalition, in partnership with the Hamilton County Health Department, Olivet Baptist Church and Arts Build, will be giving free Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer second doses of COVID vaccinations to the Chattanooga homeless population, thanks to a grant by Blue Cross Blue Shield.
The vaccinations will be given across the street from Olivet Baptist Church, 751 East M.L.K.
Blvd. in Chattanooga this Saturday from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. There will be music, free pizza and goodie bags at the event.
Nurses with Homeless Healthcare will be on hand at Saturday’s event to administer the Johnson &
Johnson and Pfizer vaccine. Homeless Healthcare also offers the vaccine free of charge throughout the week at 730 E. 11th St. in Chattanooga.
Wendy Winters, executive director of the Chattanooga Regional Homeless Coalition, says the
generosity and partnerships of local foundations make protecting this vulnerable population possible, but more needs to be done to incentivize the hesitant to get vaccinated. “We are so grateful for our funder, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and the Hamilton County Health Department for providing us this opportunity to make sure the vaccines are offered equitably to all, and for our many community partners that are helping us to incentivize getting the vaccine,” Ms. Winters says. “We’re looking to do more and more of that, so those that are left to vaccinate have some encouragement. We are open to hearing from new partners that may want to help with this effort too. We think they will find the experience rewarding, and we know they would be helping us to save lives.”
Ms. Winters says they are actively seeking organizations interested in offering their services to help
incentivize the homeless to get vaccinated, because the group is particularly vulnerable. If anyone is
interested in partnering with the Homeless Coalition in this way, contact them through their
website.